OREANDA-NEWS. May 28, 2012. On the eve of International Day of Peacekeepers Prime Minister Mykola Azarov visited the Special Peace Center of the National Academy of Internal Affairs of Ukraine. He expects that already in December this year, this Center will be certified by the United Nations.

"This Centre we are preparing for an international certification that is, to assess the quality of its preparation by UN’s specialists. I hope that in December this certification will pass successfully and we will have an opportunity to prepare not only our specialists for participation in peacekeeping operations but also ones from overseas," said Mykola Azarov during familiarization with the Special Peace Center work, in Kyiv region.

After certification Centre will function as a permanent operating international regional center for training UN peacekeeping personnel. On the organization of such Centre the UN Secretariat has requested to the Government of Ukraine.

Prime Minister has promised the governmental support to this Centre. "The government will do everything possible to make it was one of the world's best centers for training peacekeepers," stressed Mykola Azarov. PM acquainted with the educational and training base of the Center and saw how peacekeepers are being instructed with fire training, counteractions to terrorism as well as he attended cadets’ classes of physical training and English. Prime Minister also congratulated the peacekeepers on the professional holiday and handed over the Cabinet thanks. Thus, Mykola Azarov recalled the International Day of UN Peacekeepers has been introduced at Ukraine’s initiative: "I would like to congratulate all involved in peacekeeping activities on the Day of Peacekeepers and would like to remind that this event has been introduced at the initiative of Ukraine, and Ukraine since the early days of peacekeeping missions takes active participation," said Mykola Azarov.

PM recalled last week there was held the NSDC of Ukraine meeting where addressed the issue of fighting against terrorism: "It’s extremely important case to us, both all equipment availability and, most importantly, relevant specialists’ training have great importance for our country. Therefore, the Government pays great attention to this issue. "Thus, Mykola Azarov emphasized Ukraine is proud of its peacekeepers. According to the Head of the government, they received the highest evaluation by UN specialists and other foreign countries too.

The Special Peace Center has two educational buildings, shooting gallery equipped with modern, as well as multimedia system simulations, autodrome, specialized laboratories and training ranges, including technical blasts. Currently at the center 414 cadets are studying, of which 53 - are women. Centre trains instructors in peacekeeping subjects and international policemen.